(Victorville)– Just a few weeks after the official start of the summer season, the City of Victorville will launch road improvement and safety projects valued at $11.5 million. According to City officials, summer is the best time for road work because the higher temperatures help with asphalt construction; and fewer cars are on the road when school is not in session.

Over the course of the next four months, the City will undertake three road improvement and safety projects. Specifically, crews will increase pedestrian safety at seven schools, reconstruct a 3.8-mile stretch of Village Drive and connect La Mesa Road to US 395.

Safe Routes to Schools Project

This week, the City launched its Safe Route to Schools Project, which will improve pedestrian safety for children and families at seven Victorville schools. Sidewalks will be added along with crosswalk safety flashers, striping and signage. New traffic signals will be installed at the corner of Mesa Linda Avenue and La Mesa Road and the corner of Mesa Linda Avenue and Luna Road. Improvements are planned for Puesta Del Sol, Mojave Vista, Village, Liberty, Eagle Ranch, and Morgan Kincaid elementary schools as well as Mesa Linda Middle School.

Crews started their work in the area of Puesta Del Sol Elementary School where improvements include the addition of a box culvert and water main relocation to improve drainage and to allow for the addition of new sidewalks.

Work on the Safe Route to Schools Project is expected to continue into the Fall of 2018. Eto Camino Road is the preferred detour during construction. City officials will work with school officials to communicate the best travel routes after school returns to session in August.
The Safe Routes to School Project will cost approximately $4.3 million. This project will be funded largely through a Federal Active Transportation Grant that was obtained through a collaboration between the City of Victorville, Victor Elementary School District, the Adelanto School District, and a committee consisting of staff from the County Department of Public Health and various non-profit organizations.

The contract was awarded to Sully Miller Contracting, and work is expected to be complete by Fall 2018.

Village Drive Reconstruction

On July 16, work will begin on the reconstruction of 3.8 miles of Village Drive between Mojave Drive and Air Expressway. In addition to rehabilitating the roadway, crews will add 1.5 miles of center turn lane between Llanada Avenue and Air Expressway. Plans also call for the addition of 3.8 miles of bike lanes and sidewalk between Puesta Del Sol Drive and Llanda Avenue. Concrete ramps will be replaced and storm drains will be improved throughout the construction area.

This road improvement project is expected to be complete in early November at a cost of $5.2 million. The contract was awarded to Sully Miller Contracting and will be paid for primarily using funds from Measure I and the SB1 Local Streets and Roads Fund.

Connection of La Mesa Road to US 395

In Mid-September, crews will build approximately 0.3 miles of new road in order to connect La Mesa Road with US 395. Turn pockets will be added on US 395, and a new traffic signal will be installed at the new intersection of La Mesa Road and US 395.

Work will continue through the Fall of 2018. Sully Miller Contracting was awarded this contract valued at approximately $1.9 million.

Later this Fall, the City will begin work on two additional projects to increase bikes lanes in Victorville. A mixed-use bike path will be constructed to connect Mojave Fish Hatchery Road to Jacaranda Avenue at Victor Valley College; and a large loop of bike lanes totaling 10 miles will be constructed as part of the City’s Mojave Riverwalk.

Additional information about these projects including road work announcements and updates will be posted periodically to the City of Victorville website at victorvilleca.gov.